Chapter 2 Flashcards
Biological Psychology
A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Phrenology
Theory that claimed that bumps on the skull could reveal mental abilities and character traits
Neuron
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Dendrite
The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon
The extension of a neuron ending in branching terminal buds, through which messages pass to other neurons, muscles, or glands
Myelin Sheath
A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons, enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses
Action Potential
A neural impulse; a brief electrical change that travels down an axon, generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon membrane
Threshold
The level of stimulation needed to trigger a neural impulse
Synapse
The junction between the axon of the sending neuron and the dendrite of the receiving neuron
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gap when released by sending neuron, travel across synapse and bind at receptor sites on receiving neuron
Acetylcholine ACh
A neurotransmitter that enables learning, memory and muscle action
Dopamine
Influences movement, learning, attention and emotion
Serotonin
Affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal
Endorphins
Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
Nervous System
The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Central Nervous System
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
Nerves
Neural “cables” containing many axons which are part of the Peripheral Nervous System, connect the Central Nervous System with muscles, glands and sensory organs
Sensory Neurons
Neurons that carry incoming info from sense receptors to the CNS.
Motor Neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information form CNS to muscles and glands
Interneurons
CNS neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory imputs and motor outputs
Somatic Nervous System
The division of the PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles (skeletal nervous system)
Automatic Nervous System
The part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (ie the heart)
Sympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Reflex
A simple, automatic inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee jerk response
Lesions
Tissue destruction (brain lesions- natural or experimental destruction of brain tissue)
Neural Networks
Interconnected neural cells, with experience, networks can learn as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce a certain response
Endocrine System
The body’s “slow” chemical communication system, a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones
Chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine system glands, that are produced in one gland and affect another
Adrenal Glands
A park of endocrine just above the kidneys that secrete the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine which help to arouse the body in times of stress.
Pituitary Glands
The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
EEG
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface (electrodes placed on scalp)
PET scan
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes home the brain performs a task
MRI
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images that allow us to see structures within the brain
fMRI
A technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans
Brain stem
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord enters the skull, responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
The base of the brain stem, controls heartbeat and breathing
Reticular Formation
A nerve network in the brain stem that plays an important role in arousal
Thalamus
The brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brain stem, it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Hippocampus
Processes memory
Pons
Coordinates movement (above medulla)
Cerebellum
The “little brain” attached to the rear of the brain stem, it’s functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Limbic System
A doughnut shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brain stem and cerebral hemispheres, associated with emotions, drives (sex, food) includes hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus
Amygdala
Two Lima bean sized neural clusters that are components of the Limbic system and are linked to emotion
Hypothalamus
Below the thalamus, directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp) helps govern the endocrine system (controls pituitary gland) and linked to emotion
Cerebral Cortex
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres, the body’s ultimate control and information processing center
Glial Cells
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish and protect neurons
Frontal Lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead, involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgement
Occipital Lobes
At back of the head, includes visual areas
Parietal Lobes
Top of the head toward the rear, receives sensory input for touch and body position
Temporal Lobes
Roughly above the ears, includes auditory information primarily from the opposite ear
Motor Cortex
At rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
Sensory Cortex
The area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement
Association Areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions (learning, remembering, thinking and speaking)
Phineus Gage
Railroad worker whose frontal lobe was damaged and his personality changed
Aphasia
Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s (language) or Wernicke’s areas (understanding)
Broca’s Area
Controls language expression, an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere that directs the muscle movements involved in speech
Wernicke’s Area
Controls language reception, a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression, usually in the left temporal lobe
Plasticity
The brains capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage
Corpus Callosum
The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Split brain
A condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by the cutting of the connecting fibers between them
